The Black Within
- May 30, 2024
- waleedzo
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io StoreIn "The Black Within," become Laila Rose, a down-on-her-luck musician who sold her soul for fame and fortune. Venture into the aby at the instruction of your new boss, Arne Cheyenne, facing the consequences of your actions. This psychological horror experience challenges you with a battle of fear versus change, pain versus hope, and takes roughly 70 minutes to complete.
PC
Windows
Epic Games
Reviews
- The Black Within offers a genuinely creepy atmosphere with effective jump scares and a compelling story that resonates with players.
- The game is well-executed for a debut title, showcasing strong sound design, responsive controls, and a good flow between locations.
- Many players appreciate the game's potential and are excited to see future projects from the developer, indicating a solid foundation for growth.
- The game is very short, typically taking less than an hour to complete, which leads to concerns about its replay value and justifying the price.
- Some puzzles are considered too easy, and the gameplay follows a standard formula seen in many indie horror titles, lacking innovation.
- Certain design choices, such as the use of modern assets in an old setting, feel out of place and detract from the overall immersion.
- story28 mentions
- 46 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The game's story is a mix of engaging and thought-provoking elements, exploring themes of deals with dark forces and the music industry's moral dilemmas. While some players found the narrative to be interesting and emotionally resonant, others criticized it for being too brief or lacking depth. Overall, the storytelling is appreciated for its originality and atmosphere, though many wished for a longer experience to fully develop the plot.
“The story had meaning to it and it brought tears to my eyes.”
“The storytelling was rich, original, and has a very important message behind it.”
“Without spoiling the ending, I feel that anyone who has ever wanted to go 'viral' or worked in the entertainment industry could relate to the story in this game.”
“The story is too quick, too sudden; basically, it says 'what will happen if you make a deal with a dark thing.'”
“However, with that being said, I think this story is not only all over the place, but also highly unbelievable.”
“The overall story is neat, and I do wish the game was longer to fully flesh out and develop the story.”
- atmosphere12 mentions
- 92 % positive mentions
- -17 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its genuinely creepy atmosphere, characterized by effective jumpscares, random paranormal activity, and a sense of dread that enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the rich visuals and psychologically intense narrative, which contribute to a tense and immersive environment across various locations. Overall, the atmosphere is a standout feature, making it a compelling choice for fans of horror games.
“The atmosphere was great in this game; I loved the random paranormal activity that occurred in the house, creating a sense of dread like something was behind you.”
“I really loved this game; it got a good few jumpscares on me, and I really loved the atmosphere. The puzzles weren't too hard but not hand-held either; I recommend this game.”
“I enjoyed the rich atmospheric visuals, engaging psychologically intense narrative, and exceptional design, which was impressive.”
“The game has a genuinely creepy atmosphere.”
“The environment feels lifeless and uninspired, failing to immerse me in the experience.”
“Despite the potential for tension, the atmosphere often feels flat and unengaging.”
- graphics8 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 13 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players praising the rich atmospheric visuals and impressive design, while others criticize the dated graphics and the use of bought or free assets. Overall, the visuals are described as solid and occasionally amazing, but there are inconsistencies, such as sound not matching the visuals, which can disrupt immersion.
“The graphics were amazing at times.”
“The game looks solid graphically.”
“I enjoyed the rich atmospheric visuals, engaging psychologically intense narrative, and exceptional design was impressive.”
“The graphics and interface are extremely dated for a new 2024 game.”
“Graphics are a bit lacking and bought/free assets are used.”
“However, there were occasional issues with sound not matching the visuals, which slightly disrupted the immersion.”
- gameplay7 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally smooth and well-executed, with mechanics that are standard for the genre, such as mini puzzles and keyfinding. However, players note that the experience can feel repetitive, as each playthrough is nearly identical, and some feel the price is too high for the limited gameplay duration. Overall, while it avoids major technical issues, it adheres closely to a familiar formula.
“I do have to say that all of the mechanics are well taken care of in comparison to many other titles built on the same formula.”
“Smooth gameplay all throughout.”
“While it avoids major technical issues that are common in similar indie horror games, the gameplay feels like it uses the standard formula and each playthrough is nearly identical.”
“- the price is too high for an hour of gameplay.”
“The actual mechanics of the game are pretty standard: mini puzzles to progress through the game (find keys, enter combinations, etc) and with some pretty decent scares in between.”
- music7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some praising its quality and effectiveness in enhancing the horror experience, while others feel it doesn't align well with the game's narrative. The soundtrack is noted for its grandiosity and artistic vision, but there are suggestions to consider copyright-free options for better accessibility in content creation. Overall, the music contributes positively to the game's atmosphere, despite some critiques regarding its fit within the context.
“But the game has some good sides - it has no bugs and has a nice soundtrack.”
“Not only the music, but the sound effects, as well as the sounds for the jump scares and horror aspects of the game.”
“Waleedzo has a very clear artistic vision and talent as seen in the cutscenes, music choice, and voice actors chosen for this project as all were done very well.”
“The grandiose music and deep quotes do not fit the narrative of a 50-minute indie horror game.”
“Not only the music, but the sound effects and sounds for the jump scares and horror aspects of the game were lacking.”
“Some of the most effective moments weren't even accompanied by music!”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by clever Easter eggs, such as a reference to xqc's emote, and amusing sound effects that make item collection feel like eating, adding a lighthearted touch to the gameplay experience.
“There's a great easter egg behind the painting of xQc's emote that made me laugh!”
“I think the sound for picking up items was hilarious, as it sounded like you were eating things instead of putting them in your pocket.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
While "The Black Within" provides a compelling experience with strong tension, it is noted to have limited replayability, suggesting that players may not find enough incentive to revisit the game after completing it.
“The game offers good tension, but lacks replay value.”
“Once you complete the story, there's little incentive to play again.”
“The lack of varied outcomes makes replaying feel redundant.”
